What would you do? You’re home alone watching TV in the living room when you hear a window break at the back of the house and then footsteps. Or you just lost a loved one and want the comfort of knowing someone could be there for you at a moment’s notice if you had a medical emergency. Or maybe you want to give your mom and dad the independence of living in their own home, but ensure their safety at the same time.

For more than 1,500 people in the St. Louis area, the Lifeline emergency notification system is the answer. At the push of a button (whether it be on a pendant or a watch), a small in-home communicator automatically dials the Lifeline Response Center and within seconds, calls are answered by an operator.

I am fortunate enough to be able to help hundreds of St. Louisians each year by volunteering at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. Mainly I help with the Chapter’s Lifeline InTouch program, where Red Cross volunteers personally call each subscriber to make sure they are doing well and their Lifeline system is working properly. As you can probably imagine, after seven years of talking with subscribers, I have met so many people of all ages that have been impacted by the Lifeline service.

One woman recently called to say she had accidentally forgotten her Lifeline pendant at the YMCA by the pool. She called to see if there was anyway she could get a replacement because she had already been without the service for three days and felt powerless. We were able to help and bring her comfort right away.

And then there was the 117-year old woman who had the service for four years. She was able to live at home, but her friends and family were worried about her living alone, so they convinced her to get the Lifeline service. Her voice was kind and gentle, and she would tell me stories from her childhood. Getting to know people like her reminds me I love this volunteer opportunity.

A close friend of mine who I grew up with also subscribed not long after her husband passed away. Like so many of us, she felt lost and insecure after losing her husband. We get used to living with someone day in and day out, and when they are gone it is like a piece of us is missing too. With Lifeline, she had the certainty that at the push of a button, someone could be there in a matter of minutes. Another woman who lost her mate would call Lifeline every day about the time it got dark just to hear another person’s voice. It brought her a peace she was unable to find elsewhere.

Another subscriber, about four or five years ago, was home alone when he heard a window break in the back room. He immediately pushed the Lifeline button and when the burglar walked in the living room and heard a voice say “are you alright”, the burglar ran from the house.

And of course, I talk with subscriber’s children who overwhelmingly comment, “I am so happy that mom and dad have Lifeline. Thank you!”

Throughout the seven years as a volunteer, I have come to think about how the Lifeline service provides for other subscribers. It gives them a sense of independence, hope and freedom. It gives them a peace of mind. Then I realize that’s why I wear one too.

Lorraine Siebert

Red Cross Volunteer